Our pick
Of all the wagons we tested, the Mac Sports Collapsible Folding Outdoor Utility Wagon best hits the sweet spot of price, versatility, weight, and ease of use. It’s one of the simplest wagons to unfold and use, and it rolls smoothly enough to keep its contents intact over mud, grass, bumps, and curbs. At 22½ pounds, it’s one of the lighter models we tested and a cinch to lift into cars. It’s also one of the lowest-priced wagons we considered, but it performed as well as or better than wagons that cost twice as much. The wagon can hold up to 150 pounds. Note that though many people do use these wagons to haul kids, the safest ones for moving kids around are stroller wagons, like our also-great pick, the EvenFlo Pivot Xplore All-Terrain Stroller Wagon.
Also great
The Mac Sports Heavy Duty Collapsible Folding All Terrain Utility Cart has the largest wheels and, at 6.7 cubic feet, the largest volume of any wagon we tested. So it’s easy to pull beach gear and little beachgoers across bumpy sand. This wagon easily folds and unfolds, and we found that it was simple (at 24.5 pounds) to lift into the car after a long day in the sun. We have a few issues with this wagon—the telescoping handle can feel flimsy, and it costs around $50 more than the standard Mac Sports wagon. But after previously recommending a cheaper, less-sturdy beach wagon—which broke after a year—we think the Mac Sports All Terrain’s overall durability and maneuverability on sand make it worth the increased cost.
Also great
Evenflo Pivot Xplore All-Terrain Stroller Wagon
A cross between a folding wagon and a stroller, this model comes with sunshades and harnesses, and it can carry both kids and gear.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $450.
If you’re seeking a folding wagon for toting small kids between the ages of 6 months and 4 years, the Evenflo Pivot Xplore All-Terrain Stroller Wagon has safety and comfort features that are similar to those on a stroller. Yet it can also carry a lot of your gear. The Pivot Xplore’s handlebar makes it maneuver more like a stroller than a folding wagon (you can push it, and it turns easily), and it folds up smaller than any of the other stroller wagons we looked at. At 34.7 pounds, the Pivot Xplore is the heaviest of all our picks, though. It’s also more than twice the price of both Mac Sports folding wagons; we think the extra cost and features may be worth it if you plan on making this one of your main modes of transportation for little ones. Currently, Evenflo is having some stock issues, but it has not discontinued this model; we think it’s worth the wait until stock returns.
Upgrade pick
Veer Cruiser
This roomy and well-built wagon is likely to last a very long time, and since it has many add-on accessories, it can be adapted for use with kids of various ages.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $600.
If you’re looking for a wagon that will take children from infancy to grade school, the adaptable Veer Cruiser Stroller Wagon may make sense for you. This model is for those who are willing to pay significantly more for a wagon that will provide many years of transportation—as well as fun. The roomy interior and dedicated foot wells mean it’s extra-comfortable for two kids to sit in while they’re being pulled around the neighborhood. It weighs 32½ pounds—a couple of pounds lighter than our other stroller-wagon pick, the Pivot Xplore. And Veer sells various add-on accessories that make the wagon adaptable for babies and bigger kids, including a car seat for infants and a hammock seat for toddlers.
As of publishing, this wagon was out of stock at many retailers. We’ll update the guide when we find more place where it’s available.